Activities Home / Background / Activities / Photo Gallery Obedience Pet therapy Fieldwork Conformation Obedience Emma and I started with Puppy Kindergarten when she was 10 weeks, and continued with the series of obedience classes with the San Mateo Dog Training Club. Emma received her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) AKC title at 13 months. 10-17-98: Emma qualified and placed second for her first CD leg at the San Joaquin Valley Specialty (181.5 points). Emma took the precision out of the term "precision heeling", but did OK. I was a nervous wreck during the off-leash portion: Emma would heel nicely, but then periodically lag and then catch-up. During the lags I could no longer see her out of the corner of my eye and feared the worst! Mom (watching from a distant vantage point) said she was never more than a few feet behind me. Emma's co-breeders, Diana and Victor Pintel, were also at the specialty. 1-16-99: Emma qualified for her second CD leg with a 186.5 score (Skyline Dog Fanciers All-Breed Show, San Mateo, CA). She was a very good girl, and enjoyed the show. 3-11-99: Emma qualified for her third and final CD leg with a 183.5 score (San Joaquin Valley Specialty Show, Turlock, CA)! With this final leg, she earned her first obedience title of CD (Companion Dog)! Go Emma! The major benefit of all this training has been to teach the two of us how to communicate. I can take Emma many places and know she will behave well (within reason!). Want to learn more about COMPETITIVE OBEDIENCE from a site I put together for beginners like me? Animal Assisted Therapy Emma and I have been members of Therapy Dogs Incorporated (TD Inc.) for almost 2 years. We also qualified through the Delta Society's extensive evaluation last year. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) or Animal-assisted activities (AAA) are volunteer activities in which dogs and their owners visit patients in different settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Emma was initially tested for temperament, reaction to distractions, obedience, and health. A second requirement involved three observed visits to a hospital or care facility with our wonderful evaluator, Lyn Belingheri. Emma enjoys meeting new people, and has a repertoire of tricks: shake, other paw, leave it, roll over, and bow. Would you like to find out more about therapy dog work? Fieldwork Aug 1997 We participated in our first GGLRC field fun day (Emma was a wee 4 months old). The beginning puppies and dogs were introduced to pigeons, shotguns, and water. All of the participating dogs made wonderful land retrieves. This was Emma's first exposure to a bird retrieval, and she was fascinated. I felt that my heart was going to burst with pride when I saw her running to me with her pigeon. It was a wonderful day. June 1998 Emma made some beautiful water retrieves! Our 2nd field day was located in Suisun, CA and we had a wonderful day with the GGLRC Club. I need to work on Emma's hold command (she tends to drop the bird or bumper before she reaches me). I also need to reinforce the Come command. Emma is now displaying some adolescent behavior and thinks "keep away" is quite a good game. August 1998 Our third field training day was held at Jones Lake in Pescadero, CA. Emma made four land retrieves and two or three water retrieves. Due to my lack of training, Emma is still dropping the retrieved object a number of feet away before coming to me. One funny retrieve was with a clipped live pigeon. Emma retrieved this pigeon (her first live, unbound bird) but dropped it about 2/3s of the way back. She and the pigeon walked companionably side by side for a few feet, and then she picked it up again and brought it the rest of the way in. Silly girl! She must have a pretty gentle mouth. We both had a great time as usual. October 1998 Emma got her WC!! Sierra Vista LRC held a field training day combined with a WC (working certificate) test in Lodi, CA. The requirements for the WC were a single land retrieve (the gunner threw out a pigeon and shot it), and two back-to-back water singles. The WC is designed to show that the dog has field drive. Steadiness and to-hand delivery are not required. I'm so proud of my girl. Now it is my turn to teach the "hold" and deliver to hand, and we just may try for our JH (AKC Junior Hunter) at some point. Emma just loves this, and has excellent focus. Her sister, Bailey (Mistypoint Sunshine Closeup), also got her WC at this event! Conformation Emma (7 months) and I at the SJV Lab Specialty, Nov 1997 I have shown Emma several times in conformation: at the October National Lab Specialty (6 months old), the SJV Lab Specialty (7 months old), and in a GGLRC specialty Stud Dog class with her sire. We prepared by going to conformation handling classes offered by San Mateo Dog Training. It was a lot of fun to experience the show ring. Emma is spayed but I will continue to show her in non-regular classes when possible. Home / Background / Activities / Photo Gallery